Pictures Top to Bottom: Durban coast, Jason loving the beach scene, South African women selling, Yes they do surf (I'm told there's a huge shark net somewhere out there), Visiting Grace Baptist Church in Amanzimtoti, Durban
Something that we really noticed right away in South Africa is the high level of security. It was everywhere with buildings, housing subdivisions and properties all having bars on windows and doors, high fences, high fences with wicked barbed wire, high fences with electrified wire, high fences with large dogs behind them and armed response signs to let everyone know that a security team is ready to respond. Wow! This is something we knew of early on in our decision to pursue this ministry, but it is a different thing to see it firsthand. All the Durban team of missionaries and South Africans have been effected by the crime. Cars stolen or broken into, "smash and grabs" at intersections (that's why I like traffic circles), homes broken into while missionaries are away, armed robbery and robbery in the middle of the night. Some missionaries have even lost garden chairs off their patios while they are sleeping. I asked who is it mostly committing theses crimes and I was told almost exclusively the black population. Still missionaries and South Africans have expressed that the way to handle it is to remain vigilant. Even with all the precautions, if someone wants to get in and steal, they'll find a way. One missionary told us that still the way to handle it is to get on with life in spite of it, but pray much about protection and security issues. Knowing all of this doesn't make it easier and we must also ask the Lord to work and use whatever necessary to help the missionaries evangelize with the truth of the gospel. We must pray for the Lord's provisions for the ministry and for the replacement of what might be lost to crime. There is truly a resolve in the hearts and minds of the missionaries we met to remain committed to serve and love on people for Christ's sake.
We met with Selvan and Darryl in the morning of the fourth day. It was great to hear of their heart of a shepherd as we prayed for members of The Phoenix Fellowship and the ministry among the Phoenix population. Please pray for Thabo who is the youth leader at TPF while working an insurance job during the day to help support his family and taking classes at the Baptist Bible College. His mother passed away last week after long illness. The memorial service was on the weekend. Pray for comfort and strength and that Thabo will be able to persevere in all that he is doing while grieving.
We visited with David and Virginia Morris for lunch. They have lived and worked in the southern part of Durban for over 20 years! He was a missionary pastor with Grace Baptist Church in Amanzimtoti. from northern Durban to Amanzimtoti is over 40 km! This illustrates how spread out Durban is. David and Virginia raised their children in Durban and their love for the people is obvious. They finished with Grace Baptist Church after 20 years and that church then called another pastor who is South African. We went on a tour of southern beach area, where there is lots of surfing. We also went to see Grace Baptist Church. David and Virginia are preparing for a new ministry role among seniors through Grace Baptist Church. Pray the Lord will lead them in this and other ministry roles, especially teaching classes at the college. Jason and I had a great time talking about ministry and life in SA with David as he showed us around.
No comments:
Post a Comment